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42 Splendidly Creative Homemade Musical Instruments

May 17, 2017 by Sarah 7 Comments

Do you know what is perfect for a rainy day? A playdate? Any sick day? Or a just-about-an-anything day? Homemade musical instruments!!

If you are just not sure what to do with the little ones, making a homemade musical instrument band is always the answer. There is so much fun to be had and amazing memories to create as well.

I originally wrote this post on DIY musical instruments a few years ago, so I thought I would share it again, as it really is a classic kids’ activity. I hope you like it!

Just before we get started—since I know you love finding new learning opportunities for your little ones—grab my free 20 Deep Learning Activities Found in Everyday Life ebook! When we open our eyes to everything around us, slow down and invite our children into our world, the learning opportunities are endless! Grab your free copy right here:

 

With the weather turning chilly, we are finding ourselves inside more often. More indoor play, reading, art, and far more crafting too. In fact, I am trying very hard to pick up knitting once again (and when I say once again, I mean from when I was about 8 years old). I have successfully knitted 2 hats (and unsuccessfully knitted a ton of other… ‘things’).

The kids have also found themselves creating a lot more. And, new to us, there has been a lot of crafting homemade musical instruments. The boys have always loved to dance (or run with their arms flailing) to music, but have only just begun to show an interest in creating the music themselves.

With a looooonnnng winter ahead, I thought it would be a good idea to stock up on some ideas for homemade musical instruments. And well, I kinda got carried away… So I bring you:

42 Spledidily creative homemade musical instruments for kids! #homemade #DIY #music #musicalinstruments #preschoolactivities

42 Splendidly Creative Homemade Musical Instruments!

42 Spledidily creative homemade musical instruments for kids! #homemade #DIY #music #musicalinstruments #preschoolactivities

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Instruments for Shaking

Rhythmic Shaker – This was the activity that started the fascination with DIY musical instruments for my boys. A classic really, but with a neat twist!

42 Spledidily creative homemade musical instruments for kids! #homemade #DIY #music #musicalinstruments #preschoolactivities

Sensory Bin Shakers by Fun-a-day – Such a lovely way to extend on a sensory bin.

diy musical instruments for kids

Paper Plate Tambourine by She Knows – A classic activity with some weaving too—a great way to practice fine motor skills while creating homemade instruments! A paper plate, some jingle bells, and yarn or string are all you need.

homemade musical instruments paper plate tambourine she know

Jingle Bells by Chasing Cheerios (link no longer available) – Such a lovely musical instrument for little musicians! These little jingle bell sticks are perfect for holiday preschool concerts.

homemade musical instruments jingle bells

Ankle Bells by Mini Eco – I think that this knitted project is just what my daughter Madeline has been looking for to create homemade Christmas gifts for her brothers! The colorful yarn is gorgeous too.

Homemade musical instruments

Recycled Instruments for Shaking!

Fancy Egg Shakers by Mama Smiles – We love this classic homemade musical instrument for kids! A great way to reuse those plastic Easter eggs too. 

homemade musical instruments fancy egg shakers

DIY Rain Sticks by The Imagination Tree – My little ones would love creating this version of a rain stick. Any craft that involves a hammer is right up their alley!

homemade musical instruments rainstick imagination tree

Maracas by What’s up Fagans – What a simple, creative idea! Another great way to use up those plastic easter eggs. A whole class set would be simple to whip up. 

homemade musical instruments maracas

Whisk Maracas by ALLterNATIVE Learning – I love that you can make this for your little ones in a matter of moments, perfect for in the kitchen when making dinner too.

homemade musical instruments whisk maracas

Cardboard Rattle Drum by Pink Stripey Socks – This is a neat instrument for preschoolers to explore!

homemade musical instruments rattle drum

Rainstick by FSPDT – I used a rainstick in my Kindergarten classroom as a way of getting little ones’ attention and preparing them for transitions, but it also makes a unique homemade musical instrument!

DIY Music instruments for kids

Instruments for Plucking or Strumming

Kalimba Musical Instrument by Herding Cats George – A paper plate (and we all know my love for a good paper plate craft!) and some popsicle sticks make this craft perfect for using what you have on hand.

homemade musical instrument tutorial

Nutshell Musical Instrument by Artists Helping Children – Now this is an easy homemade instrument! A nutshell, a rubber band, and a stick are all your little one needs to get rocking.

DIY Musical instruments for kids

Pin Strummer by Piikea – This one was new to me, but looks so simple, interesting, and inviting I can’t wait to give it a try (or should I say a DIY) with my kids.

homemade music instruments for kids

Matchbox Guitar by Martha Stewart (link no longer available) – Incredible homemade musical instruments AND fantastic for fine motor skill development. Can’t beat it! (Really, you can’t—you are supposed to strum it.)

homemade musical instruments for kids

Cup Drum also by Play, Sing, Laugh (link no longer available) – This one will be a neat one to try! Also great for developing a pincer grip.

homemade musical instruments cup drum

DIY Strummies by Teach Preschool – Some rubber bands, a box, some creativity, and you are good to go! This activity was an extension to a book—a really neat one, too!

42 Spledidily creative homemade musical instruments for kids! #homemade #DIY #music #musicalinstruments #preschoolactivities

DIY Wooden Instruments by Hello Bee – These are perhaps more adult-made, but simply gorgeous—and durable too!

homemade musical instuments DIY wooden hello bee

Baby Guitar by House of Burke – Starring Rockstar baby Kingston and supplies you already have!

homemade musical instruments baby guitar

Noisemakers by FSPDT – sometimes it is the simplest of things that spark the most creativity in my little ones – these simple shakers are great musical instruments!

Homemade Musical Instruments for HITTING and BANGING!

Rainbow Xylophone by And Next Comes L – Nothing quite as inviting as playing with rainbow colours on a dull winter’s day! This craft will be tucked safely up my sleeve until February, I do believe. (Do you remember me whining about February last year?)

homemade musical instruments for kids

Steel Drums by Sugar Aunts – This post is all about a Rockin’ Drum Birthday Party—loads of ideas for homemade drums and more!

homemade music instruments

Wooden Xylophone by In Lieu of Preschool (link no longer available) – What a neat idea! I love the trick of using colours to help teach little ones to play music.

42 Spledidily creative homemade musical instruments for kids! #homemade #DIY #music #musicalinstruments #preschoolactivities

Rainbow Water Xylophone by Still Playing School – Another classic homemade musical instrument with a twist! What a neat idea to add some food colouring… and a light table!

42 Spledidily creative homemade musical instruments for kids! #homemade #DIY #music #musicalinstruments #preschoolactivities

Bop-o-phone by My Musical Magic – Homemade musical instruments, in general, are great to brighten dull days, this bop-o-phone looks like it would brighten even the darkest, greyest of winter days!

42 Spledidily creative homemade musical instruments for kids! #homemade #DIY #music #musicalinstruments #preschoolactivities

Outdoor Musical Instruments (also great for HITTING and BANGING!)

Pot Bell by Play, Sing, Laugh (link no longer available) – We have a few terra cotta pots leftover from the summer that could be put to good musical use this winter.

homemade musical instrments pot bell

Melody Pole by Timotay Playscapes (link no longer available) – Because even in the winter, we will be outside every day!

homemade musical instruments for kids

Disc Cymbals by Happy Hooligans – So simple, fun, and creative! And I bet they are a nice quieter alternative to some homemade cymbals.

42 Spledidily creative homemade musical instruments for kids! #homemade #DIY #music #musicalinstruments #preschoolactivities

Balloon Bongo Drums by Kids Activities Blog – Such a neat idea to use balloons for the drum surface!

homemade musical instruments for kids

Wrench Xylophone by De Tout et De Rien – This has my Sammy’s name written all over it. I will have to wait for a weekend when our wrenches will not be needed for a while. I have a feeling after we make this we won’t be able to wrench (?) for a few weeks.

homemade musical instruments for kids

The Most Creative DIY Musical Instruments for Kids!

Tubaphone by Play, Sing, Laugh (link no longer available) – Well, just look at it!! I am surprised I am still sitting here writing and not creating one of these myself right now!

homemade musical instruments tuba phone

Den Den Drums by Learning 4 Kids – I had never thought to use a wooden spoon for a drum—such simple creativity!

42 Spledidily creative homemade musical instruments for kids! #homemade #DIY #music #musicalinstruments #preschoolactivities

French Horn by Savvy Homemade – Bet you have never seen a french horn quite like this one! For us, it will require some supplies we don’t have at home—like a funnel and corrugated pipe—but it just might be worth the trip!

homemade musical instruments for kids french horn

Chicken in a Cup by All for the Boys – Learn something new every day, right? Who knew this was a thing?!

homemade musical instruments chicken in a cup

DIY Didgeridoo by Two-daloo (link no longer available) – Because some days you just need to make a Didgeridoo. Not sure what a Didgeridoo is? Well, today is the day to find out friends! 

Homemade musical instruments

Coconut Shell Instruments by Two-daloo (link no longer available) – This one is such a unique idea! What a fun way to explore sound.

homemade musical instruments coconut shells

The EASIEST Musical Instruments to Make

Aboriginal Clapping Sticks by Laughing Kids Learn – A wonderful homemade instrument to practice rhythm and beat.

homemade musical instruments clapping sticks

Banging Wall by SouleMama – Such a lovely, open-ended invitation to create music, from my favourite blogger of all time!

42 Spledidily creative homemade musical instruments for kids! #homemade #DIY #music #musicalinstruments #preschoolactivities

Singing Straws by Krokotak – Now this one looks awesome! Take a few straws and tape and you have quite the creation. 

Homemade musical instruments

Popsicle Stick Harmonica by Housing a Forest – We have already tried this homemade musical instrument and it is the ideal blend of simplicity and fun! Just grab some colored popsicle sticks and rubber bands, and you’re set.

homemade musical instrumetns popsicle stick harmonica

Jingle Bell Ankle Bracelets by Twodaloo (link no longer available) – Put these little gems—made with painted wooden beads and jingle bells—on your ankle and just TRY to walk normally 🙂

homemade musical instruments jingle bell anklets

Cardboard Guiro by Tiny Tapping Toes – I simply love how big this musical instrument is! Perfect for little ones who need to burn off some energy (also known as my kids… always).

homemade musical instruments cardboard guiro

Those are enough homemade musical instruments to keep us busy all winter—and hopefully for you and yours too!

I tell you friends, if you are ever not sure what to do with your preschoolers on a rainy day, or if a playdate is going awry, or if it’s a snow day for the big kids… homemade musical instruments will be your saving grace. 

Here’s hoping Mama doesn’t get a headache!

These are awesome, easy, and fun homemade musical instruments for kids to make! #homemademusicalinstruments #musicalinstruments #kidsactivities #kidscrafts #craftsforkids #familyfun #funforkids

P.S. Don’t forget to grab your free ebook!

You’ll also love these How Wee Learn best-sellers:

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Filed Under: Art, Create, Easy Crafts, Explore, Kindergarten, Learn, Loads of Ideas!, Other Learning Fun, Science Tagged With: art for preschoolers, DIY, homemade musical instruments

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Comments

  1. Guy Gardener says

    July 9, 2015 at 12:27 pm

    Using old wrenches like that seems really cool. I have a few spares laying around I can use. How would broken ones work, or do they have to be new?

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      July 10, 2015 at 12:47 pm

      Interesting question – I haven’t tried with broken wrenches but I think if you played with the positioning you would be okay. Let me know if you try!

      Reply
      • Guy Gardener says

        February 16, 2016 at 6:00 pm

        IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL WITH BROKEN WRENCHES!!!

        Reply
        • Sarah says

          February 16, 2016 at 7:36 pm

          Eeek – really good to know. Thanks for sharing!

          Reply
  2. Samuel T. Cummins says

    August 8, 2016 at 3:55 am

    What a great round up. My little boy is pretty much obsessed with making anything a musical instrument. he loves to make noise and especially loves playing with anything musical. These homemade instruments are quick and easy to make and based on simple recycled materials. My toddler is going to love these!. Thanks for sharing..

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      August 13, 2016 at 8:28 pm

      So glad they are helpful ideas for you and yours Samuel. Thank you for taking the time to let me know!

      Reply
  3. Betty W. Ettinger says

    August 14, 2016 at 11:05 am

    I just saw (and pinned) Baby Guitar on Pinterest and wanted to tell you how much I love it! What a clever idea, and so simple!

    Reply

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